5V5 FLAG FOOTBALL GUIDE

Flag football routes, one diagram at a time

A route is the path one player runs. This page draws each route in the flag football route tree on its own, so you can see its shape before you put it into a five-player play. Every diagram can be redrawn in the FlagSlate editor.

Open the play library See the route tree

The diagrams show shapes, not distances. Decide how far each player runs and when with your team, and check your league's rules before practice.

How to read a route diagram

The offense moves toward the top of each picture. The dashed line is the starting line. A route has two parts: the stem, the first stretch upfield, and the break, where the player turns. Most route names describe the break: toward the middle, toward the sideline, or back toward the quarterback.

In every diagram below, X lines up on the left and runs the route. QB, C, Z and H stay where they start so the shape is easy to read. In a real play all four eligible players can run routes at once; the examples table shows how the library combines them.

The flag football route tree

A route tree collects the routes a team uses in one picture and often gives each a number, so a play can be called as a string of numbers. NFL FLAG numbers its tree from 0 (hitch) to 9 (chair). Other teams use different numbers, so write down the numbering your team uses. FlagSlate labels plays by name, not by number.

NFL FLAG route 0

Hitch

X runs the hitch. Original schematic, not to scale.

Upfield, then a short turn back toward the quarterback.

NFL FLAG's version: about seven yards upfield, then a pivot back for a couple of yards.

To draw it: select the player, choose Draw route and click 2 points, ending at the arrow.

In the play library: Hitch pair, Corner and hitch, Post and corner, Trips left: slant and hitch, Center out with split straights, Offset slant with outside hitches.

Open Hitch pair

NFL FLAG route 1

Slant

X runs the slant. Original schematic, not to scale.

A short stem, then an angle upfield toward the middle.

NFL FLAG's version: a couple of yards forward, then a cut at close to 45 degrees.

To draw it: select the player, choose Draw route and click 2 points, ending at the arrow.

In the play library: Slant route example, Trips left: slant and hitch, Offset slant with outside hitches.

Open Slant route example

NFL FLAG route 2

Out

X runs the out. Original schematic, not to scale.

Upfield, then a square turn toward the sideline.

NFL FLAG's version: a set distance forward (five yards in their example), then a 90-degree cut.

To draw it: select the player, choose Draw route and click 2 points, ending at the arrow.

In the play library: Out route example, Hitch pair, Post and outs, Corner and hitch, Post and corner, Trips right: staggered outs, Trips left: slant and hitch, Center out with split straights.

Open Out route example

Not numbered in the NFL FLAG tree

In

X runs the in. Original schematic, not to scale.

The opposite of an out: upfield, then a square turn toward the middle.

NFL FLAG's version: described as the opposite of an out route, run at about ten yards in their five-player play.

To draw it: select the player, choose Draw route and click 2 points, ending at the arrow.

In the play library: none of the 12 examples uses this route yet. Draw it on a new play.

Open your playbook

NFL FLAG route 3

Post

X runs the post. Original schematic, not to scale.

A longer stem, then an angle toward the middle of the field.

NFL FLAG's version: about seven yards forward, then a 45-degree cut toward the center of the field.

To draw it: select the player, choose Draw route and click 2 points, ending at the arrow.

In the play library: Post and outs, Post and corner.

Open Post and outs

NFL FLAG route 4

Corner

X runs the corner. Original schematic, not to scale.

A longer stem, then an angle toward the sideline.

NFL FLAG's version: about seven yards forward, then a 45-degree cut toward the edge of the field.

To draw it: select the player, choose Draw route and click 2 points, ending at the arrow.

In the play library: Corner and hitch, Post and corner, Corner pair with inside straights.

Open Corner and hitch

NFL FLAG route 5

Fly (straight)

X runs the fly (straight). Original schematic, not to scale.

Straight upfield with no break. Also called a go route.

NFL FLAG's version: run straight.

To draw it: select the player, choose Draw route and click once, at the end point.

In the play library: Straight route example, Out route example, Slant route example, Hitch pair, Post and outs, Corner and hitch, Trips right: staggered outs, Trips left: slant and hitch, Center out with split straights, Offset slant with outside hitches, Corner pair with inside straights.

Open Straight route example

NFL FLAG route 6

Option

X runs the option. Original schematic, not to scale.

Starts like a slant, then turns flat toward the sideline.

NFL FLAG's version: appears to begin a slant toward the center, then cuts parallel toward the sideline.

To draw it: select the player, choose Draw route and click 3 points, ending at the arrow.

In the play library: none of the 12 examples uses this route yet. Draw it on a new play.

Open your playbook

NFL FLAG route 7

Stop and go

X runs the stop and go. The white bar marks the stop; the editor cannot draw it, so put it in your notes. Original schematic, not to scale.

Upfield, a stop, then upfield again.

NFL FLAG's version: about seven yards straight, a stop, then off again toward the end zone.

To draw it: select the player, choose Draw route and click 2 points, ending at the arrow. Clicking the stop point on the same line keeps the line straight; note the stop in the coach notes.

In the play library: none of the 12 examples uses this route yet. Draw it on a new play.

Open your playbook

NFL FLAG route 8

Post corner

X runs the post corner. Original schematic, not to scale.

A post break toward the middle, then a second break toward the corner.

NFL FLAG's version: seven yards straight, a cut toward the center, then a break toward the corner.

To draw it: select the player, choose Draw route and click 3 points, ending at the arrow.

In the play library: none of the 12 examples uses this route yet. Draw it on a new play.

Open your playbook

NFL FLAG route 9

Chair

X runs the chair. Original schematic, not to scale.

A short stem, a flat turn toward the sideline, then straight upfield.

NFL FLAG's version: about four yards forward, a cut parallel to the side, then straight up the field.

To draw it: select the player, choose Draw route and click 3 points, ending at the arrow.

In the play library: none of the 12 examples uses this route yet. Draw it on a new play.

Open your playbook

Route names, numbers and the "NFL FLAG's version" lines paraphrase the NFL FLAG route guide. Our diagrams and descriptions are original. There is no affiliation or endorsement.

Left, right and mirroring

Routes are named toward the middle or toward the sideline, not toward left or right. An out run by X on the left goes left; the same out run by Z on the right goes right. A slant, post or in always angles toward the middle, whichever side it starts on.

So when you mirror a play in the editor, every route keeps its name. Only the left/right wording in your title and coach notes needs checking, because the editor does not rewrite text. The play designer guide shows a mirrored drawing.

Routes in the 12 library examples

The play library uses six of these routes. This table shows which route each player runs in each example. QB has no drawn route in any of them. It describes the drawings; it is not a list of recommended plays.

Route run by each player in the library examples
Example	C	X	Z	H
Straight route example	Straight	Straight	Straight	Straight
Out route example	Out	Out	Out	Straight
Slant route example	Straight	Slant	Slant	Straight
Hitch pair	Out	Hitch	Hitch	Straight
Post and outs	Out	Post	Out	Straight
Corner and hitch	Out	Hitch	Corner	Straight
Post and corner	Hitch	Post	Corner	Out
Trips right: staggered outs	Out	Out	Straight	Out
Trips left: slant and hitch	Out	Straight	Slant	Hitch
Center out with split straights	Out	Straight	Straight	Hitch
Offset slant with outside hitches	Straight	Hitch	Hitch	Slant
Corner pair with inside straights	Straight	Corner	Corner	Straight

When two routes cross, such as a slant and an out, NFL FLAG's guide suggests the players agree who goes first so they do not run into each other. Check that in the drawing before practice.

Draw any of these routes in FlagSlate

Open a play in My playbook, or select New play for a blank field.
Select the player, then choose Draw route.
Click once for each turn, then once for the end point. The arrow appears on the last point.
Drag the white points to adjust the stem or the break. Use Clear route to start that player's route again.
Write the real distances and any stop in Coach notes. They print under each drawing on the playbook pages, not on the wristbands.

For moving players and copying plays, see the play designer guide. To put the finished routes on players' wrists, follow the wristband printing guide. For complete five-player drawings, start from the 12 editable examples.